Spring-wheel.



W. R. IHRIG.

SPRING WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED JULY17,"1911.

Patented July 2, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPM co., wAsmNcl'roN. n. c.

W. R. IHRIG.

SPRING WHEEL. APPLICATION FILED JULY17, 1911.

Patented July 2, 1912.

2 SHBETBSEEBT 2.

lllllllllll s 7 Ill/ ll ,mggllll COLUMBIA FLANOGIAPH CO..wASmNOTON. D.c.

UNITED STATES PATENT onruon.

WILLIAM R. IHRIG, OF WITHERS MIL LS, MISSOURI.

SPRING-WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 17, 1911. Serial No. 639,026.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM R. Innis, a citizen of the United States,residing at -Withers Mills, in the county of Marion, State of Missouri,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring-Wheels; andI do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and. use the same.

This invention relates to an improvement in vehicle wheels which areespecially adapted for use in connection with motor vehicles, and it hasfor its principal object to obviate the necessity of using pneumatictires by providing a wheel wherein a plurality of coil springs areinterposed and mounted in a novel manner to afford ample resiliency toabsorb all shock and vibration incident to the passage of a wheel overrough places.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wheel for the purposedescribed which is simple in construction, being composed of a minimumnumber of parts, is easy to assemble and disassemble when the occasionmay require, and is also cheap to manufacture.

With these and other objectsin view, the invention consists in theconstruction and novel combination of parts hereinafter fully described,illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claimshereto appended; it being understood that various changes in the form,proportion, size and minor details of construction, within the scope ofthe claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit orsacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings; Figure 1 is a detail top plan view showing a wheel,constructed in accordance with my 1nvent1on, mounted upon the rear axleof a motor vehicle, Fig. 2 is an elevation showing the mner face of thewheel, Fig. 3 is an -elevation showing the outer face of the wheel, Fig.4 is an elevation of the wheel, the outer section being re- "moved, andFig. 5 is a sectional view through the construction shown in Fig. 1.

Like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in all the figuresof the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, the invention comprises a wheel WlllCllincludes a casing Patented July 2,

that is formed by an inner section 5 and an 3 outer section 6, saidsections being formed of metal and shaped to form disks. A plurality ofradially extending recesses 7 are formed in the inner face of the innersection 5. Each of these recesses includes spaced side walls 8--8 and anend wall 9, the end wall being disposed in close proximity to but spacedfrom the periphery of the section, and the side walls 8 intersecting theside walls of the adjacent recesses. Concentrically formed in said innersection 5 is a large circular opening 10. An axle 11 has one endprojecting through the opening 10 from the inner side of the section,and has its projected end reduced as shown by the reference numeral 12.Integral with the axle and spaced from said reduced end is an enlargedbearing 13 around which is mounted a sleeve 14. Slidably mounted on thesleeve 14 is a hub 15 of a brake disk 16, the

latter being adapted to bear against the inner face of the inner section5. Secured around the sleeve in spaced relation to the hub 15 is a clip17 said clip terminating in spaced ears 18-18. A pivot pin 19 isconnected to the ears, and mounted upon the pin for movement is abell-crank lever 20. A link 21 is pivotally connected at one end to onearm of the lever 20, and at its other end to the hub 15 by any suitablemeans. An operating rod 22 of any suitable construction is connected tothe free end of the other arm of the lever for actuating said lever andconsequently the brake disk 16.

Integral with the inner section 5 and projecting laterally around thedisk 16 is a dust flange 23 by means of which dust is prevented fromworking in between the inner section 5 and the disk 16.

Fixedly mounted upon the reduced end 12 of the axle, by means of a keyor the like,

is a hub 24, and radially projecting from the hub is a plurality ofspokes 25 which are respectively disposed within the recesses 7 of theinner section 5. These spokes each terminate in spaced relation to theend wall 9 of the recesses 7, and have their ends 26 curvedconcentrically to the center of the hub 24. The hub 24 and the spokes 25are formed of metal and have a uniform thickness equal to the depth ofthe recesses 7, so that their outer faces lie substantially in the sameplane as the outer face of the inner section 5. A

Transversely disposed within each of the recesses 7 and bearing againstthe ends 26 of studs is a coil spring 30, which normally urges the bar27 against the end 26 of the spoke 25. s

Oppositely projecting from each spoke 25 are studs 3131, and projectinginwardly from the side walls 8 of the recesses 7 opposite the studs 31are Other studs 3232.: Disposed between the studs 31 and 32 are; coilsprings 3333, which tend to normally; hold the spokes centrally withinthe recesses In order to further assist in normally hold-g ing the hub24 in its central position there is; provided a plurality of radiallyextending studs 34:34l-, said studs extending from thei periphery of thehub and being disposed in- Projecting inwardly from the juncture of thewalls 8 of the recesses are other studs 35, and between the studs 34 and35 are coil springs 36. A- nut 37 is secured to the outer end of theaxle 11 and serves to hold the hub 24 in its- It will be observed inthis? connection that when the axle ll'revolvesg the hub 24k and thespokes 25 will revolve;

termediate the spokes 25.

proper position.

therewith.

The outer section 6 is centrally provided? with a projecting cap 38,said cap being disposed over and around the hub 24C and the This sectionis disposed in ground: engagement with the inner section 5, and

nut 37.

these sections are secured together by bolt-s 39 and nuts 40, or othersuitable fastening means. -A tire 41 of any suitable construction ismounted on the periphery of the inner and outer sections in any suitablemanner.

From the foregoing, 1t w1ll be observed that when the wheel strikes anyobstruction ends 26 ofthe spokes 25 are rounded when said spokes arecaused to move they will be permitted to do so with the least possibleresistance.

What is claimed is p 1. Incombination with an axle, of a hub carried bythe end thereof, spokes radiating from the hub, a casing for the hub andspokes consisting of opposed inner and outer circular sections disposedin ground engagement, the inner section being concentrically formed withan opening for receiving the axle, one of the sections being formed onits inner face with a plurality of recesses for receiving the hub andthe spokes, said recesses including spaced side walls and an end wall,transverse bars respectively disposed within the recesses between theouter ends of V the spokes and the end walls of the recesses, aplurality of springs disposed within the recesses between the bars andthe end walls of said recesses, and other springs disposed within therecesses between the sides of the spokes and the side walls of therecesses.

2. In combination with an axle, of a hub carried by the end thereof,spokes radiating from the hub, a casing for the hub and spokesconsisting of opposed inner and outer circular sections disposed inground engage ment, the inner section being concentrically formed withan opening for receiving the axle, one of the sections being formed onits inner face with a plurality of recesses for receiving the hub andthe spokes, said recesses including spaced side walls and an end wall,transverse bars respectively disposed within the recesses between theouter ends of the spokes and the end walls of the recesses, a pluralityof springs disposed within the recesses between the bars and the endwalls of said recesses, other springs disposed within the recessesbetween the sides of the spokes and the side walls of the recesses, andother springs disposed within the recesses and respectively having oneend abutting the hub intermediate a pair of spokes and the other endbearing against the juncture between the side walls of an adjacent pairof recesses.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature, in presence of twowitnesses.

WILLIAM R. IHRIG.

Witnesses:

ALLEN E. DENT, WILL IHRIG.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

